2015 Rise Above Fest Will Feature Seether, Godsmack, Slash, More to Promote Suicide Awareness

Next May will mark the third edition of Seether's Rise Above Fest, which raises money for suicide awareness. The first two go-rounds were solid — the group raised roughly $70,000 total for the cause — but this spring is sure to be the biggest spectacle yet in Bangor, Maine.

The group has already recruited Godsmack, Slash and Papa Roach, among others.

"It seems to be picking up a lot more steam, to a point where it's certainly bigger than we were thinking it was ever going to become," Seether's Shaun Morgan told Billboard.

The site reports Morgan was inspired to start the festival after his brother succumbed to depression and committed suicide in 2007.

"I think there's going to be a lot more turnout, even, just judging by the bands who are going to be on the bill," Morgan said. "They're certainly of a very high caliber and a very high standard — not that the ones before weren't, but we're getting big names involved now, so that's really kind of exciting."

Godsmack's Shannon Larkin is pumped to be part of the event.

"We are proud to be playing this show for such a righteous cause," he said in a statement. "Out of all the benefits we have played in the last 15 years, this one hits especially close to our hearts, as we have lost so many people in this business to these tragedies ... We will pour it all out on the stage with our blood, sweat and, yes, tears for our fallen brothers and try to help spread the word that everyone on this planet can indeed Rise Above."

Morgan has big plans for the future of the fest — he wants to bring it to other cities around the country.

"We raised $60,000 in a city that's quite far north and almost inaccessible, in a sense," Morgan explained. "If we can do $60,000 in Maine, imagine if we moved it down to a major hub like a Chicago or a Washington [D.C.], basically any big, major city. Maybe even in a Nashville we can do one — just a lot of cool cities which I think are certainly more accessible from other parts of the country. And I think that could help raise some more money for the charity as well."

Check out Seether's 2008 song "Rise Above This," which Morgan wrote following the death of his brother:

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Suicide